As you might have guessed if you’ve been following along thus far, I have a predilection for India Pale Ales but in the interest of variety, here’s the first dark beer in this series.

Házmela Rusa (literally Do Me The Russian – although in Spanish the phrase has a sexual connotation) is a cacao and chili infused Russian Imperial Stout from the Mexico City borough of Iztacalco.

Made by La Chingonería, the beer is indeed very dark – basically black – and has a classic robust stout flavour.

There are definitely some chocolaty notes in it but I can’t say that I pick up much of the dried chilis that are listed as the fifth of six ingredients in the brew. Maybe just a slight tingle on the tongue.

It’s quite nice but I’m not an avid stout man and Házmela Rusa won’t be a catalyst for conversion.

But as they say, a change is as good as a holiday and with 8% alcohol content, it’s a vacay with a slowly ascending buzz.

One last thing: as I poured the dark Russian, it’s head grew quickly in the glass, forcing me in for a salvaging slurp. So, if you’re sitting down to one – caveat imbiber.